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Leigh Wood: Josh Warrington’s resentment battle ‘could be my last’

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Leigh Wood says he could have ended his career happily if he had used the style of rival Josh Warrington on Saturday.

Wood (28-4, 17 KO), 37, will face another former featherweight world champion Warrington (32-4-1, 8 KO) in a rematch at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham following Warrington’s Round 7 stoppage in October 2023.

Warrington believes their first fight was stopped prematurely, while Wood is upset by Warrington’s criticism of his Round 9 defeat to Anthony Cacace last May.

As well as silencing Warrington in their non-junior lightweight title fight, Wood is desperate to improve after a painful night against Cacace and possibly end his career with a large win in front of his hometown fans.

“I’m winning this fight and that doesn’t mean I’m underestimating him, but no matter which way he wants to fight, I’ll have an answer to it and the fight won’t last long,” Wood told ESPN.

“I’m not looking back on this fight, but it could be my last one. After the fight, I’ll look at the landscape. I’m not really thinking about what might be next because right now I’m focused on the prize.”

“We don’t like each other, that’s sincere. Whichever way he wants to do it, whether he hits right at me or tries to box me, I’m prepared for it. He can change his timing, but he can’t change his style, and his style suits me. It’s fine with me.”

Wood’s coach Ben Davison threw in the towel when Northern Ireland player Cacace started firing unanswered shots in Round 9 to seal a disgusting defeat for Wood.

Wood, who reigned twice as the WBA featherweight world champion from 2022 to 2023, claims he is in better condition than before the Cacace fight, which comes after a 19-month layoff.

Warrington, a two-time IBF featherweight world champion (2018-2021, 2022), has lost three of his last four fights and even briefly retired in September 2024 after a loss to Cacace.

“I had some good and bad nights at the Nottingham Arena and the last fight wasn’t to my taste stylistically,” Wood told ESPN.

“But this fight is really in my favor and I will look good. Before the Cacace fight, I had a huge break, I had a grave illness that I had for nine months and I was gaining weight. I have always faced challenges, but considering all this, maybe it was a step too far.

“I’ve already dealt with the illness and I’ve had a great camp. I’ve sparred really well and I’m usually not the best at sparring. I can’t wait to get there and do a better job this time. I have to win this fight. He discredited me in some of the things he said, I’ll do a better job.”

The lessons of Brendan Ingle are fresh in Leigh Wood’s mind

Wood is aiming to repeat the level he achieved in victories over Can Xu, Michael Conlan, Mauricio Lara and Warrington. Wood’s career is slowly taking off after turning professional at a leisure center four miles from Nottingham city center where he fights on Saturday.

As his career comes to an end, Wood appreciates the influence of trainer Brendan Ingle on his boxing journey. Wood trained at a Sheffield gym with Ingle, who recently starred in the film “Giant,” about his relationship with Naseem Hamed, the featherweight champion from 1995 to 2000.

“I’ve changed a lot since my debut and I’ve been through a lot,” Wood told ESPN.

“But Brendan Ingle told me early on that you have to gain your experience, I’ve been through it, I’ve had ups and downs and I’ve bounced back from setbacks.

“I was with Brendan for about 10 years, he taught me a lot of things and made me believe in myself, and outside of boxing he taught me a lot of life lessons.

“While I was there, there were some really good people coming through the gym like Johnny Neslon, Kell Brook, Kid Galahad and Junior Witter. It was an incredible place to learn and learn the craft at that time, and Brendan gave me some unusual training exercises. Those were good lessons.”

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Boxing

The most talented Dubois still attends school

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Solomon Dubois trains in the gym as the youngest member of the Dubois boxing family begins attracting attention in amateur boxing

The Dubois family has already produced two world champions. Now another name is starting to attract attention in British boxing.

Daniel Dubois and sister Caroline turned the family name into one of the most celebrated names in British boxing, but now a different Dubois is quietly emerging from the amateur ranks.

According to many, including Stanley’s father, Solomon Dubois may finally become the best of them all.

Another Dubois appears

The 13-year-old turned heads at national tournaments as he developed under the Dubois umbrella. Stanley, the man who helped shape Daniel and Caroline into world champions, is overseeing his second son’s progress.

Daniel himself has publicly endorsed Solomon to one day become a major force in the sport as the youngest member of the fighting family continues his rise.

This naturally creates expectations.

Over the years, a lot has been written and said about the Dubois family, but not all of it was positive. Family feuds, public disagreements, pressure and media attention have followed the name for much of Daniel and Caroline’s career.

Fresh chapter

However, in Solomon’s case, there is already a feeling that boxing could be the beginning of a fresh chapter.

As Daniel and Caroline gradually enter the final stages of their careers, Solomon is just beginning his own journey.

The pressure is already on, but he is following in the footsteps that will be able to impart significant knowledge.

When a family has already produced two world champions, expectations arise long before title fights or professional contracts emerge.

That’s what makes Solomon’s situation so fascinating, because the noise around him isn’t the result of random social media hype designed to produce the next substantial thing.

This belief clearly exists within the family itself.

Stanley has long suggested that Solomon may naturally possess an agility and raw ability that simply cannot be taught.

Dubois syndrome

The pressure comes early

At the same time, there is an obvious danger in placing too much expectation on someone so newborn.

The history of boxing is full of prospects who faced pressure before they were physically and mentally ready to handle it.

For now, Solomon remains a student learning his craft with one of the most recognizable names in British boxing.

A professional move and a likely collaboration with Frank Warren will almost certainly come later if he continues to make progress.

However, at the moment it’s simply a matter of keeping his feet on the ground as the attention around him continues to grow.

Because if the Dubois family’s beliefs prove correct, British boxing may finally discover that the most talented Dubois was the youngest all along.


About the Author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.

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Boxing

Keyshawn Davis vs. Nahir Albright 2 Saturday night, live on DAZN

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Image: Keyshawn Davis vs Nahir Albright 2 Saturday Night, Live On DAZN

In October 2023, rising contender Keyshawn Davis entered the ring for an intense fight against Nahir Albright. In the first round of the fight, Albright used his feints and changed levels with his jab.

In the first round, Davis managed to land a well-timed right hand. Over the next few rounds, Keyshawn Davis established range and as a result, started landing his combinations.

Halfway through the 10-round fight, Davis was in complete control, consistently launching counterattacks. During the final three rounds of the fight, Albright found success in punching with his right hand.

Albright was competitive but didn’t seem to be doing enough to win rounds. At the conclusion of the 10-round contest, Davis was declared the winner by majority decision.

Two weeks later, Keyshawn Davis was confirmed to have tested positive for marijuana. Davis received a 90-day suspension and his majority victory over Nahir Albright was changed to a no-contest.

Following his match with Keyshawn Davis, Nahir Albright’s boxing career came to an end after a 19-month hiatus. In June 2025, Nahir Albright stepped back into the squared circle to face Keyshawn’s older brother, Kelvin Davis.

Albright was very aggressive as he hurt Davis in the second and fourth rounds. Albright set the pace of the fight and won a convincing victory.

After the fight ended, Keyshawn and his younger brother Keon jumped Albright backstage. According to Albright, the Davis brothers entered his locker room and Keyshawn headbutted him, leaving a lump on his right eye.

Following the incident, police escorted Keyshawn Davis from the arena. Davis was initially scheduled to headline the event, but he weighed 4.3 pounds over the legal weight limit and was stripped of his WBO world title.

After this embarrassing incident, Keyshawn Davis redeemed himself in January 2026 when he dominated Jamaine Ortiz. Now Davis is ready to take care of unfinished business on Saturday night.

Keyshawn “The Businessman” Davis didn’t look like a pro on Friday afternoon when he weighed in at 140.2 pounds. Davis stripped down to his bare essentials and weighed 140.1 pounds.

After his second failed attempt, Davis was given two hours to reach the 140-pound limit. A tiny time later, Davis returned to the scale and weighed 140 pounds.

Performance wise, Keyshawn Davis is a striking boxer who has poise, timing, a solid jab and a high ring IQ, is an elite counter puncher, has excellent punch placement and is deadly when landing body shots.

His opponent, Nahir Albright, has a quick jab, is elusive, has good footwork, uses head movement regularly, is tough and used to throwing a series of punches.

The grudge match will be held on Saturday evening, May 16, at the Scope Arena. Norfolk native Keyshawn Davis wants to make a statement to his hometown fans, but his opponent, Nahir Albright, plans to play the role of spoiler.

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Boxing

Eddie Hearn questions Dana White’s boxing future

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Image: Eddie Hearn Questions Whether Dana White Can Handle Boxing

“I just don’t think they’re going to face the fire,” Hearn told iFL TV about Dana White and his company at Zuffa.

“You have years of catching, putting out fires and being bombarded with pellets and grenades to overcome this.

“I just don’t think they’ll be ready for the fire. You must be a little unwell.” [__] to do this. That’s what I do.”

Hearn also ridiculed White’s recent comments about boxing promotion and said the UFC president faces criticism now that he is in the boxing industry.

“He stank,” Hearn said.

“He’s not used to this. Don’t forget what we do, which is meeting people, giving interviews. But he had a narrative.

“He didn’t have anyone like that. That’s why he can’t do it and instead just says weird lyrics.”

Hearn later joked that White’s repeated comments about him actually helped escalate his visibility in the United States.

“I have to thank Dana White,” Hearn said.

“Every press conference he holds, he talks about me.

“I think there are people asking, ‘Who is this Eddie Hearn?’ Little Google, boss, Eddie Hearn.

Promoter Matchroom also rejected White’s recent claim that no promoter has staged more boxing events this year than Zuffa Boxing.

“The entire media audience responded, ‘Okay,’ and moved on to the next question,” Hearn said.

“Imagine if I said that. I would be fried by it in an instant.”

Hearn’s latest comments come as Zuffa Boxing continues to try to establish itself in the sport following months of public photos between White and several longtime boxing promoters.

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